Railway car side frame construction



Dec. 3, 1957 c. MSK. DEAM 2,814,997

RAILWAY CAR SIDE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 22, 1953 "W SI United States Patent O RAILWAY CAR SIDE FRAME coNsrRUcTIoN Clayton McK. Deam, Chesterton, Ind., assignor to Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application September 22, 1953, Serial No. 381,644

12 Claims. (Cl. 10S-418) The present invention relates to a side frame construction for a railway car or the like, and more particularly to such a construction of light yet strong box section formed of members welded or otherwise secured at readily accessible portions.

The invention is exemplied in the illustrated embodiment as employed to provide the bottom chord of a railway car side frame. A channel section side sill is secured on the underframe with its anges directed inwardly, and a horizontal side frame member generally of channel section is secured, preferably by Welding, to the sill to delne with the outer face thereof a box section structure extending longitudinally of the car. The side frame member has a channel web narrower than the sill web and a reflange on one of the channel flanges outturned to lie against and extending upwardly beyond the sill web, the other ange extending beyond the plane of the reange to underlie the lower sill ange. The engaging portions of the sill and member outwardly of the box section are secured together by welding, or other means if desired, being readily accessible for this purpose. A post, brace, or other side frame member extending in a vertical plane is engaged on the upper face of the box section structure and against the reflange, preferably being subassembled with the horizontal side frame prior to formation of the box section and having an open section for ready securement by welding to the reflange and its associated flange and by any suitable means to the side sill web after assembly of the sill and horizontal member.

The invention provides a light but strong construction to resist both vertical and lateral loads on the car body and to strengthen the underframe. It provides for facile assembly and securement of the parts, the engaging portions of which are readily accessible for attachment to each other and lend themselves particularly well to securement by spot welding, which is particularly desirable when stainless steel or similar high-strength material is employed. The invention has the further advantage of in eifect combining the underframe side sill and the side frame bottom chord so that each reinforces the other. It also provides a construction employing a minimum of material to obtain a maximum of strength by simple, uncomplicated means. In addition, the invention provides for strong securement of a side frame member extending in a vertical plane to a box section structure by attachment thereto in two intersecting planes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a side frame construction of box section for railway cars and the like which is simply formed of a plurality of parts and aifords great strength with light weight.

Another object is the provision of a side frame construction for railway cars and the like in which a light yet strong box section structure is obtained by welding or `otherwise securing a horizontal frame member to a side sill on the underframe.

Another object is the provision in railway cars or the like of a combined underframe and body frame construction of box section obtained by assembly of a horizontal 2 frame member with an underframe side sill having cooperating portions readily accessible outwardly of the box section for spot welding or like securement.

Another object is the provision of a light, strong frame construction of box section for railway cars and the like formed by members adapted for assembly by spot weldlng.

Still another object is the provision of a side frame construction for railway cars or the like formed of a plurality of open section members permitting ready accessibility for mutual securement assembled to form a horizontal frame structure of box section having a side frame member in a vertical plane engaged thereon.`

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a side frame construction according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig, 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as being disposed in a joint between a pair of structures of a railway car or more particularly disposed between a vertical wall and an underframe of a railway car. More specifically, the invention is illustrated as employed in a railway passenger car having an underframe including a crossbearer C, one end of which is shown. A side sill connection or reinforcement R is Welded or otherwise secured extending across the end of the crossbearer web, or longitudinally of the car. The reinforcement R is of angular form, with a web extending vertically and a flange extending substantially horizontally under the web of the crossbearer C. Riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the reinforcement is a side sill 10 extending substantially the full length of the underframe. It will be understood that the crossbearer C is one of a plurality of crossbearers and other cross members of the underframe, such as holsters and iioor beams, and that the side sill 10 is connected to such cross members in substantially the same manner as to the crossbearer C, although the precise details of its manner of support as part of the underframe may vary without affecting the invention. It is contemplated by the invention that the side sill have a flange along at least one edge thereof, and in the present instance the sill 10 is of channel form with a web 11 and flanges 12 extending from the opposite edges of the web. The web extends vertically along and upwardly beyond the web of the reinforcement R and the flanges 12 are directed inwardly relative to the remainder of the underframe, the liange at the lower edge of the web underlying the reinforcement flange, to which it is adapted to be secured. Subfloor sheets S may be disposed overlying the underfrarne and secured to the webs of the opposite side sills by any suitable means, such as angle members A welded to the inner faces of the sills. Suitable flooring F, which at its ends may bear on the upper flanges 12 of the side sills, is supported in spaced relation above the suboor sheets, and heat insulation I of any suitable type may be disposed in the space between the subfloor and ilooring.

A horizontal side frame member generally designated 14, which may be pressed from stainless steel sheet or other similar material of high strength, is disposed along the outer face of the side sill 10. The frame member is `generally of channel section, having a channel portion and 17 has one edge integrally secured to the web 15 of frame member 14. The flange 16 is narrower than the flange 17, and an outturned reflange 18 extends from its opposite edge directed away from the flange 17, the portion of flange 17 adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof thus extending beyond the plane of the reflange 1S, which is shown as substantially perpendicular to the flanges 16 and 17 and parallel to the plane of the web 15. The frame member 14 is disposed with the web 15 parallel to the web 11 of the side sill 10 and outwardly spaced therefrom by the flange 16, the flange 17 extending horizontally with its marginal portion disposed inwardly beyond the side sill web 11 and underlying the lower flange 12 of the side sill, and the reflange 18 extending vertically along and upwardly beyond the side sill web 11. The lower portion of the sill web 11, the flange 16, the web 15, and the portion of the flange `17 between the webs 15 and 11 thus define a horizontal member or structure of hollow substantially rectangular box section, as best seen in Fig. l. The lower portion of the reflange 18 and the upper portion of the sill web 11 are spot welded together as indicated at 20, and the lower side sill flange 12 and marginal portion of the frame member flange 1'7 are similarly secured to each other by spot welds as indicated at 21. It will be observed that the side sill and side frame member are secured together by portions thereof engaging each other outwardly of the box section defined by the sill and frame member, and that in fact the sill and frame member engage each other only outwardly of the box section; and it will also be noted that such portions are readily accessible by suitable welding means so that opposed electrodes may be applied to the opposite outer faces of the respective engaging portions for proper spot welding. Of course, the parts may be secured by other means than spot welding if desired, as bolts, rivets, or the like, but spot welding is advantageous over other securing means in many respects and is desirable with certain types of material. The accessibility `for spot welding provided by the construction, however, is equally advantageous in the use of other securing means. The marginal portion of the frame member flange 17 and the lower flange 12 of the side sill 10 are suitably secured to the horizontal flange of the reinforcement R, for example by rivets as shown.

The side frame has members such as posts, braces, or the like extending in the vertical plane thereof between the lower chord frame member 14 and an upper horizontal frame member, not shown, which are represented by way of example by a vertical post 22. The post 22 is shown as of general Z section, as best seen in Fig. 3, with a web 23 of substantially the same width as the flange 16 of the frame member 14, and oppositely directed flanges 24 on the opposite web edges which have stiffening reflanges 25 on the edges thereof defining relatively shallow channels with the web 23. At its lower end, the web 23 has an integral foot portion 26 extending at iight angles thereto. The post 22 is disposed with the web 23 transverse of the flange 16 of the member 14 and one of the flanges 24 lying against the reflange 11', the foot portion 26 lying against the flange 16, and secured to the member 14 by spot welding the one flange 24 to the reflange 18 as indicated at 28 and the foot portion to the flange 16 as at 27. The portion of the particular flange 24 that is secured to the side sill web 11 and reflange 18 may be defined as a body portion of post 2.2. The body portion and foot portion 26 of post 22 are in the same angular relation longitudinally of the side sill 111 as the flange 16 and reflange 18 are transversely of the side sill. The other flange 24 of the post extends substantially flush with the web 15 of the side frame member 14, and side sheathing 30 is spot welded to this flange and to the web 15, as indicated at 31. Vertical channels 32 are tack welded to the outer face of the sheathing at suitable intervals to support outer ltrim sheathing panels y.33, which may be of horizontally fluted or corrugated form. The horizontal edges of adjacent panels 33 are bent and overlapped in any of several known ways to define a channel 34, and secured to the vertical channels 32 by screws or the like extending through the lapped panel edges. A snap trim molding 35 is secured in the channel 34 by its own resilience to conceal the joint between the panels. The lower edge of the bottom panel 33 is bent to extend inwardly underl the frame member 14, and is spot welded or otherwise secured to a plurality of strips 36 spaced longitudinally along the outer face of the flange 17 and secured thereon by spot welds or other means, the spaces between the strips 36 providing drainage openings for the space between the side sheathing 30 and outer trim sheathing 33.

In practicing the invention, the side sill 10 is assembled with the underframe as explained and the angle member A is spot welded to the web 11 above the cross members. The side frame is assembled by spot welding to the horizontal side frame member 14 in the manner described the posts 22 or other members which are to extend in the vertical plane of the side frame and suitably connecting the other side frame members, not shown, and welding the side sheathing 30 to the posts or similar members and to the member 14 as disclosed. The strips 36 are also secured to the member 14, and the channels -32 may be welded to the sheathing 30 if desired. The open section formation of the various parts permits the various spot welding or like securing operations in assembling to be performed without difficulty, allowing ready access to the weld locations. The side frame is then connected to the underframe by disposing the side frame member 14 relative toy the side sill 10 and securing it thereto in the manner explained. The reflange 18 and the post flange 24 welded thereto are further secured to the web 11 of the side sill 10 by a rivet or the like extending through the three thicknesses of material, as shown. The outer trim sheathing may be later applied.

It is to be noted that the posts 22 or like members, in seating on the upper surface 0f the side frame member 14 and being welded to portions thereof n different planes, are afforded a very strong and rigid connection with the member 14. The strength and stiffness of the side frame is thus enhanced by reason of the formation of the member 14 and its assembly with the side sill 10 to provide a box section structure. j

It will be understood that while the side frame construction of this invention has been illustrated and described only as applied at one side of the car, it is also employed at the other car side.

What is claimed is:

l. A side frame construction for a railway car or the like including an underframe, comprising a longitudinally extending horizontal side sill of the underframe having a vertical web with a horizontal flange portion at its lower edge extending inwardly of the underframe, a horizontal frame member having a channel portion defined by a web and a pair of flanges each having one edge secured to the web and extending perpendicularly therefrom and one of the flanges being narrower than the other and also having a reflange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange perpendicular thereto and directed away from the wider flange and the web being narrower than the side sill web, and a side frame member having a body portion with a foot portion perpendicular to a plane thereof, said members being disposed with the horizontal frame member web parallel to the sill web outwardly thereof and the portion of said wider flange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof underlying and secured to the sill flange portion and said reflange extending along and secured to the sill web and with said foot portion of the side frame member engaged von and secured to said narrower flange and the body portion being disposed adjacent to said rellange and sill web and secured to both.

2. A side frame construction for a railway car or the like having an underframe, comprising a longitudinally extending horizontal side sill of the underframe having a vertical web with a flange portion at its lower edge extending inwardly of the underframe, a horizontal frame member having a channel portion dened by a web and a pair of llanges each having one edge secured to the web and extending therefrom and one of the flanges being narrower than the other and also having a rellange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange directed away from the wider flange and the web being narrower than the side sill web, and a side frame mernber having a body portion and foot portion in the same angular relation longitudinally of the side sill as said narrower flange and reflange are transversely of the side sill, said members being disposed with the horizontal frame member web outwardly of the side sill and the portion of said wider ilange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof underlying and secured to said sill flange portion and said reflauge extending along and secured to the sill web and with said foot portion of the side frame member engaged on and secured to said narrower ange and said body portion being disposed adjacent to said rellange and sill web and secured to both.

3. A side frame construction for a railway car or the like including an underframe, compiising a horizontal sill of the underframe having a vertical web with a llange portion along an edge thereof extending inwardly of the underframe, a horizontal frame member having a channel portion defined by a web and a pair of flanges each having one edge secured to the web and extending therefrom and one of the flanges being narrower than the other and also having a reflange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange directed away from the wider flange and the web being narrower than the sill web, and a side frame member having a body portion and a foot portion in the same angular relation longitudinally of the side sill as said narrower llange and reflange are trans- Versely of the side sill, said members being disposed with the horizontal frame member web outwardly of the sill web and the portion of said wider ange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof extending along and secured to the sill ange portion and the rellange extending along and secured to the sill web and with said foot portion of the side frame member engaged against and secured to said narrower flange and said body portion being disposed adjacent to said rellange and sill web and secured to both.

4. A combined side sill and side frame construction of box section for a railway car or the like, comprising a side sill of open section having a vertically disposed web with a horizontal flange portion at the lower edge thereof extending from one sill face, and a frame member having a channel portion dened by a web and a pair of flanges each having one edge secured to the web and the flanges being disposed perpendicular to the web and one of the llanges being narrower than the other and also having a perpendicular rellange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange directed away from said other flange and the web being narrower than said side sill web, said frame member being disposed with said web thereof parallel to the sill web and at the side thereof opposite said one Sill face and with the portion of the wider flange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof underlying and secured to said sill flange portion and said reflange extending along and secured to the sill web.

5. A combined sill and frame construction of box section for a railway car or the like, comprising a side sill of open section having a web and a flange portion perpendicular to the web along one edge thereof, and a frame member having a channel portion defined by a web and a pair of flanges each having one edge secured to 6 the web and the flanges being perpendicular to the web and one of the flanges being narrower than the other and also having a perpendicular reflange at the opposite edge of said narrower llange directed away from the wider flange and the web being narrower than said side sill web, said frame member being disposed with said rellange extending along and secured to the sill web and said wider flange having a portion adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof extending beyond the sill web, the sill web having said one edge thereof adjacent said wider flange and said sill llange portion being directed away from the frame member web and extending along and secured to said marginal portion of said wider flange.

6. A combined sill and frame construction of box section disposed between a vertical wall and an underframe of a railway car or the like, comprising a sill of open section at least partially delined by a web and a flange portion extending along an'edge of and perpendicular to the web, and `a frame member having a channel portion defined by a web and a pair of flanges each having one edge secured to the web and extending therefrom and one of the llanges being narrower than the other and also having a reilange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange directed away from and substantially perpendicular to the wider flange and the web being narrower than the sill web, said frame member being disposed with said reflange extending along and secured to said sill web and with the portion of said wider llange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof lying along and secured to Said sill ilange portion, the sill ilange portion being directed away from said channel portion web.

7. A combined sill and frame construction of box section `disposed between a Vertical wall and an underframe of a railway car or the like, comprising a frame member having a channel portion defined by a web and a pair of llanges each having one edge secured to the web and extending therefrom and one of the flanges being narrower than the other and having a rellange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange extending away from the wider flange, and a sill of open section having at least two angularly related portions one of which is wider than said web, said sill and member being disposed alongside each other with said wider sill portion extending vertically from said wider llange and said other sill portion directed away from said web and with said reflange extending vertically along and secured to said wider sill portion and the portion of said wider flange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof extending along and secured to said other sill portion.

8. A combined sill and frame construction of box section disposed between a vertical wall and an underframe of a railway car or the like, comprising a frame member having a channel portieri defined by a web and a pair of flanges each having one edge secured to the web and extending therefrom and one of the llanges being narrower than the other and also having a rellange at the opposite edge of said narrower flange extending away from the wider flange, and a sill of open section having at least two angularly related portions one of which is wider than said web, said sill and member being disposed with said wider sill portion extending from the wider llange and said other sill portion directed away from said web and with said rellange extending along and secured to said wider sill portion and the portion of said wider llange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof extending along and secured to said other sill portion.

9. A frame construction for a vertical wall of a railway car or the like, comprising a horizontal framing member generally of channel section having a web with a pair of substantially parallel tianges one of which is narrower than the other and has a substantially perpendicular reilange directed away from the wider flange, a cooperating horizontal member of open section having at least two Substantially perpendicular portions one of which is wider than said web, and a brace member of open section having a body portion extending in one plane and a foot portion perpendicular to said plane, said horizontal members being disposed with said anges substantially horizontal and said reange and said wider perpendicular portion extending vertically alongside and Secured to each other and with the other perpendicular portion directed away from Said web and extending horizontally along and secured to said wider ange, and said brace member having said body portion disposed adjacent to said one perpendicular portion and reange and secured to both and said foot portion lying against and secured to said narrower ange.

l0. A horizontal box section frame member disposed in a joint between a pair of structures of a railway car or the like, comprising a framing element generally of channel section having a web and a pair of Substantially parallel flanges each having one edge secured to the web and one of the anges being narrower than the other and having a substantially perpendicular reange at its opposite edge directed away from the wider flange, and a cooperating element having at least a part of the section thereof defined by substantially perpendicular portions one of which is wider than said web, said elements being disposed with said reange and said wider perpendicular portion extending vertically alongside and secured to each other and with the portion of said wider flange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof extending horizontally along and secured to said other perpendicular portion.

ll. A box section frame member disposed in a joint between a pair of structures of a railway car or the like, comprising a framing element partly of channel section having a web and a pair of anges each having one edge o u secured to the web and one of the llanges being narrower than the other and having an outturned reange at its opposite edge, and a cooperating element having angularly related surface portions one of which is wider than said web, said elements being ydisposed with said wider surface portion extendingvertically from the wider ilange across the open side of said framing element and along and secured to said reflange and with said other surface portion extending from said wider surface portion in `a direction away from said web and lying .along and secured to the portion of said wider flange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof.

12. A box section frame member disposed in a joint between a pair of structures of a railway car or the like, comprising a framing element partly of channel section having a web and a pair of anges each having one edge secured to the web and one of the anges being narrower than the other and having an outturned reange at its opposite edge, a cooperating element having angularly related surface portions one of which is wider than said web and extends from adjacent the wider ange across the open side of said framing element to dene a box section therewith and along said reange and the other of which extends from said wider surface portion in a direction away from said web and lies along the portion of said wider ange adjacent to and contiguous with the opposite edge thereof, and means securing said elements together at the reange and at said portion of said wider ange outwardlyof said box section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,198 Jennings Nov. 1, 1892 938,770 Koch NOV. 2, 1909 1,944,421 Gilpin Jan. 23, 1934 

